PREVIEW - Thousands Expected At Women's March On Pentagon In US Capital

WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2018) Thousands of activists are expected to gather in the US capital city this weekend for antiwar workshops and a planned march on the Pentagon demanding changes in America's militaristic policies.

On Saturday, activists will participate in workshops on topics ranging from women's self defense to the war in Yemen a day before the main event, the "Women's March on the Pentagon," which will kick off at 12:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) on Sunday.

Organizers and participants hope the effort will reinvigorate the movement to roll back the US war machine, a renowned antiwar activist, who lost a son in Iraq, Cindy Sheehan told Sputnik.

"The main goal is to reenergize the anti-war movement," Sheehan said. "We are not just against [US President Donald] Trump and the wars that are happening now, we are against the whole paradigm of militarism that takes money from our schools, from our communities."

Saturday's workshops, a meet and greet, and an "open mic" will be held at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington.

On Sunday, protesters will assemble on street level at the Pentagon City Station metro in the US state of Virginia an hour before the march begins. After the march, a rally will be held in the Pentagon's North Parking that will last until 4:00 p.m. (2000 GMT), Sheehan, who organized the event, said.

The coalition marching on the Pentagon, Sheehan added, includes people and organizations who believe that the war machine in the United States is run by both Democratic and Republican parties.

Sheehan underscored that Sunday's march is just a kick-off as they seek to expand the coalition's anti-imperialist activities. The movement has to be international, she added, in order to address all the women of the world and their families, and their communities, and their countries.

The speakers at the rally will include former colonel and ex-State Department employee Ann Wright, who left the State Department in 2004 after the United States invaded Iraq. Jill Stein, who was the presidential candidate of the Green Party, will also be speaking.

Members of Dragonfly Inter-tribal all Woman Drum Group as well as Musical guests , including Ariel Zevon, the Raging Grannies, the DC Labor Chorus, Pam Parker, Sheri Bauer-Mayorga and Ben Grosscup, will also participate, according to organizers.